Dingwall Owners Club

[BurningSkies]

I found myself having similar problems when I had that filter. It has killer tone but I found it difficult to use in a lot of ways, especially in a live setting. The slightest tweak to any knob, volume, or technique would alter it so drastically.

I've had it in my live setup now for a year. Here's what I've found:
-Using the Iron Ether Divaricator makes the X/D usable on stage. In fact, I wouldn't use the XD without it.
-The controls are extremely tweaky. I solved this problem by grabbing a 'fine' sharpie and marking what I found to be the most usable setting for what needed for a couple songs. Having a pedalboard to protect my settings helped too.
-The trigger on the lows can go SO low that you need to be careful, you could easily destroy speakers, especially at high volumes. Even with the frequency control, if you hit it hard enough you can wreak some havoc.

I recently bought a Xerograph Deluxe; I found I couldn’t get the envelope to open unless I put a boost before it. Annoying.

Yeah, That's part of the 'non-buffered' design. I sort of knew that going in having contacted him and discussed before purchasing. You want really frustrating? Check out this video, the dude is getting great 'clean' and classic envelope sounds out of it with a very similar setup to what we're all using:



Sounds fantastic. I did ask him about how he's getting such a nice 'clean' envelope vibe out of it and he says he tends to run compression out front, which makes sense. My next step.

...and it's totally no problem to get it to trigger with overdrive in front of it, although you do have to play with the level into it to get it 'just right'...push the input too hard and you squish everything into deep lows and no dynamic, too little and you don't trigger enough. I've been using my new Frazz-Dazzler v2 with it and it's been really interesting to be able to play with it's volume and see how it hits the XD.

I did use the XD/Divaricator combo on our recent EP, in this case with a Fulltone Fulldrive 2 to drive it:

I found it to be a very annoying pedal in a lot of ways but god it sounded so good

Yeah, frustrating. I can't decide if I should get a second envelope for 'clean' that's easier to hit and drive for that stuff or just keep trying to work through things. It sounds fantastic in places where I can hit it with OD/Fuzz and ride the expression pedal. With the Frazz I can get these stupidly alien things happening with voltage starve set just right and the eq dialed in. I have one song where I'm riding the envelope expression while chording with a volume swell, then hitting the output with delay and double-chorus on the back side...but only applied to the upper frequencies of my signal.

My birthday present to myself is a Cali76B, which is a useful piece of kit anyway, but I'm hoping will make the XD a better 'clean' filter.

 

[Musicman1901]

I've had it in my live setup now for a year. Here's what I've found:
-Using the Iron Ether Divaricator makes the X/D usable on stage. In fact, I wouldn't use the XD without it.
-The controls are extremely tweaky. I solved this problem by grabbing a 'fine' sharpie and marking what I found to be the most usable setting for what needed for a couple songs. Having a pedalboard to protect my settings helped too.
-The trigger on the lows can go SO low that you need to be careful, you could easily destroy speakers, especially at high volumes. Even with the frequency control, if you hit it hard enough you can wreak some havoc.




Yeah, That's part of the 'non-buffered' design. I sort of knew that going in having contacted him and discussed before purchasing. You want really frustrating? Check out this video, the dude is getting great 'clean' and classic envelope sounds out of it with a very similar setup to what we're all using:



Sounds fantastic. I did ask him about how he's getting such a nice 'clean' envelope vibe out of it and he says he tends to run compression out front, which makes sense. My next step.

...and it's totally no problem to get it to trigger with overdrive in front of it, although you do have to play with the level into it to get it 'just right'...push the input too hard and you squish everything into deep lows and no dynamic, too little and you don't trigger enough. I've been using my new Frazz-Dazzler v2 with it and it's been really interesting to be able to play with it's volume and see how it hits the XD.

I did use the XD/Divaricator combo on our recent EP, in this case with a Fulltone Fulldrive 2 to drive it:





Yeah, frustrating. I can't decide if I should get a second envelope for 'clean' that's easier to hit and drive for that stuff or just keep trying to work through things. It sounds fantastic in places where I can hit it with OD/Fuzz and ride the expression pedal. With the Frazz I can get these stupidly alien things happening with voltage starve set just right and the eq dialed in. I have one song where I'm riding the envelope expression while chording with a volume swell, then hitting the output with delay and double-chorus on the back side...but only applied to the upper frequencies of my signal.

My birthday present to myself is a Cali76B, which is a useful piece of kit anyway, but I'm hoping will make the XD a better 'clean' filter.

Good info. The idea of compression in front of a filter is weird to me. A filter in general is so technique driven that compressing your dynamics seems like it would limit what you can do with the filter. I suppose in the case of the X/D it’s a good thing though. I ended up selling mine because I just found it too frustrating. The same with the polytope, Taylor’s pedals are amazing but they are definitely for knob Tweakers and studio setups IMO. I just struggled with all of them live besides the Nimbus which I sill have. The best clean filter I’ve tried yet is the Aguilar twin filter. It wasn’t even on my radar and I accepted it in a trade, haven’t gone back since. It’s extremely easy to dial in. Plus, the up/down blend can supply some unique sounds opposed to most filters having an up/down switch opposed to blend. I think it’s very underrated.

 

[Musicman1901]

Ugh...watching that demo makes me miss the raunchy spacey filter tones that pedal gets.

 

[BurningSkies]

Good info. The idea of compression in front of a filter is weird to me. A filter in general is so technique driven that compressing your dynamics seems like it would limit what you can do with the filter. I suppose in the case of the X/D it’s a good thing though. I ended up selling mine because I just found it too frustrating. The same with the polytope, Taylor’s pedals are amazing but they are definitely for knob Tweakers and studio setups IMO. I just struggled with all of them live besides the Nimbus which I sill have. The best clean filter I’ve tried yet is the Aguilar twin filter. It wasn’t even on my radar and I accepted it in a trade, haven’t gone back since. It’s extremely easy to dial in. Plus, the up/down blend can supply some unique sounds opposed to most filters having an up/down switch opposed to blend. I think it’s very underrated.

Well, with a pedal that can handle dynamics in extreme ways (aka not trigger at all or trigger so hard it goes sub), something that aligns your dynamics may make more sense in keeping it on track. At the very least it can work as a decent clean boost if that's what it needs. I've never been a fan of lots of compression, but nearly all my stuff in the studio is being massaged slightly with a UA LA-2A for leveling.

Ugh...watching that demo makes me miss the raunchy spacey filter tones that pedal gets.

See? Even if it ends up being a one-trick pony...that one trick is pretty freakin' good.

 

[Musicman1901]

Well, with a pedal that can handle dynamics in extreme ways (aka not trigger at all or trigger so hard it goes sub), something that aligns your dynamics may make more sense in keeping it on track. At the very least it can work as a decent clean boost if that's what it needs. I've never been a fan of lots of compression, but nearly all my stuff in the studio is being massaged slightly with a UA LA-2A for leveling.



See? Even if it ends up being a one-trick pony...that one trick is pretty freakin' good.

It’s true, a lot of my pedals are one trick pony’s and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. I tend to make demo videos of most of my pedals for YouTube and whenever I look back at what I’ve traded or sold I question why I dumped it and I want it back hahaha.

I listened to this with headphones and nearly deafened myself. Prime example of how it could damage a cabinet haha

This filter doesn’t get the attention it deserves:

 

[Jeff Moote]

If any of you decide to give up on your Xerograph Deluxe (v2) I'd gladly take it off your hands

 

[xnewyorka]

It’s true, a lot of my pedals are one trick pony’s and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. I tend to make demo videos of most of my pedals for YouTube and whenever I look back at what I’ve traded or sold I question why I dumped it and I want it back hahaha.

I listened to this with headphones and nearly deafened myself. Prime example of how it could damage a cabinet haha

This filter doesn’t get the attention it deserves:

The secret on the Aguilar is that the threshold knob is super-sensitive. A small setting change has a huge effect. So it can really take some time to dial in exactly the setting you want. It delivers a huge range (from mild to wild), but you have to be willing to experiment a lot with the threshold setting in combination with the signal level that you are hitting it with. The blend knob is an absolutely ingenious design IMHO.

 

[Musicman1901]

The secret on the Aguilar is that the threshold knob is super-sensitive. A small setting change has a huge effect. So it can really take some time to dial in exactly the setting you want. It delivers a huge range (from mild to wild), but you have to be willing to experiment a lot with the threshold setting in combination with the signal level that you are hitting it with. The blend knob is an absolutely ingenious design IMHO.

I agree it is SUCH an ingenius design. I leave the up,down, and blend set how I like and then I just alter the threshold knob to control how my specific technique will open the filter up. I think it’s one of the most simple to use and best sounding filters. I haven’t had it long but it crushed my filter GAS immediately

 

[Matt Dean]

Since we're pulling apart your pedal board...question for you. I have and IE/XD and while I have no trouble hitting it with some fuzz or overdrive in the 4-pole setting and getting some crazy stuff, but I can't seem to get it to work clean, especially in the 2-pole for straight up funk style stuff. Any thoughts on that and what you're doing to hit it to work for such things? The envelope just ends up sounding weak and wimpy and not really triggering much action. There's a great video on YT with a Dingwall AB into it in 2 pole and it sounds fantastic for straight up clean funkiness, but with similar bass and similar setup I get no love.

I found myself having similar problems when I had that filter. It has killer tone but I found it difficult to use in a lot of ways, especially in a live setting. The slightest tweak to any knob, volume, or technique would alter it so drastically.

I recently bought a Xerograph Deluxe; I found I couldn’t get the envelope to open unless I put a boost before it. Annoying.

I found it to be a very annoying pedal in a lot of ways but god it sounded so good

I've had two Xero Deluxe's and ended up selling them because I did not like how the envelope triggered.... I just couldn't stand it's finicky nature. However, because I LOVE how it sounds for filter sweeps and low pass filtering in my dub band, I got a three knob standard xerograph which is how I use it... filter sweeps and low pass filtering.

I went through many envelope filers trying to find the right one for the funky stuff and have settled on the Micro-Tron III, which has ended my search for envelope filters.

 

[BurningSkies]

It’s true, a lot of my pedals are one trick pony’s and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. I tend to make demo videos of most of my pedals for YouTube and whenever I look back at what I’ve traded or sold I question why I dumped it and I want it back hahaha.

I listened to this with headphones and nearly deafened myself. Prime example of how it could damage a cabinet haha

This filter doesn’t get the attention it deserves:

Nice demo of the Aggie. I'll keep my eye out on it...You never know. I've been doing some lineup changes on my board lately...Just added a VFE Bumblebee, but I think it's not staying in the lineup. I also have an OC-2 that I'm considering putting back on.

 

[BurningSkies]

I've had two Xero Deluxe's and ended up selling them because I did not like how the envelope triggered.... I just couldn't stand it's finicky nature. However, because I LOVE how it sounds for filter sweeps and low pass filtering in my dub band, I got a three knob standard xerograph which is how I use it... filter sweeps and low pass filtering.

I went through many envelope filers trying to find the right one for the funky stuff and have settled on the Micro-Tron III, which has ended my search for envelope filters.

I've been thinking about the Micro-Tron as an option too. I'll definitely keep the XD, but if I'm not going to get clean envelope out of it too, I'll need something as an option.

 

[Matt Dean]

I've also heard good things about the Emma DisComBobulator V2. And I had a Filter Twin for awhile, and it was pretty cool too. But the Micro-Tron II just did the classic funky envelope thing the way I heard it in my head.

 

[Musicman1901]

I've also heard good things about the Emma DisComBobulator V2. And I had a Filter Twin for awhile, and it was pretty cool too. But the Micro-Tron II just did the classic funky envelope thing the way I heard it in my head.

I’ve heard good things about the Emma V2 also. Juan’s video of it is cool.

 

[Musicman1901]

Nice demo of the Aggie. I'll keep my eye out on it...You never know. I've been doing some lineup changes on my board lately...Just added a VFE Bumblebee, but I think it's not staying in the lineup. I also have an OC-2 that I'm considering putting back on.

Thanks, I try to demo all my stuff short and sweet without all the talk about it’s construction and housing and crap haha. I had the VFE white horse optical compressor for awhile and I loved it. They make some great stuff.

 

[BurningSkies]

Thanks, I try to demo all my stuff short and sweet without all the talk about it’s construction and housing and crap haha. I had the VFE white horse optical compressor for awhile and I loved it. They make some great stuff.

The Bumblebee is probably a good pedal for some, and was sort of suggested as an 'uber slow-gear'. And conceptually the optical-compressor into volume swell sounds good...but I didn't love the compressor and the attack envelope didn't really sweep as smoothly as I would have liked (seemed non-linear to me). There are a few other dynamic issues that were more problems than positives to me with it but very well could be loved by some.

I put it and a Mooer gear-clone on my board and found that the clone was working better for me.

 

[J Posega]

Nice demo of the Aggie. I'll keep my eye out on it...You never know. I've been doing some lineup changes on my board lately...Just added a VFE Bumblebee, but I think it's not staying in the lineup. I also have an OC-2 that I'm considering putting back on.

Your board is begging for that OC2. Send it out to get it modded to add a dry signal kill switch so you can instantly stomp to sub-only signal, run that into the Xero for some super synthy sweeps. Or use it as is and add Sledgehammer to the set list!

 

[BurningSkies]

Your board is begging for that OC2. Send it out to get it modded to add a dry signal kill switch so you can instantly stomp to sub-only signal, run that into the Xero for some super synthy sweeps. Or use it as is and add Sledgehammer to the set list!

Kind of wish I had an octave that would do 'one up one down'. Who's a contender for mods on these?

We're doing a re-work of a song that was an 'end of set anchor' for us for years, but we retired a few years back. We had rights issues with it that were really sloppy as it was an original that was fused seamlessly with a number of other pieces that had multiple people claiming rights. And I'd love to have a straight up funk-envelope for it. The issue was this it has elements of Liquidator (Jamaican, 1969, rights claimed by a few including Lee Perry), I'll Take You There (stole the riddim from Liquidator, yet has rights claims too). Our song has pieces of the riddim (but also huge swaths of our own), our own lyrics but also some ref. to the Staples' song) etc. So we're unweaving.

 

[singlemalt]

The EH pitchfork does one up/one down. The little toggle switch sets the selected interval for down, both up and down, or just up.

There’s another switch that makes it unlatched, you hold the big switch down and release. Or the regular on/off.

I bought it to mess around with the up side and distortion for a guitar range while looping. But I’m using it more for thickening. Once you select the intervals and mode, it’s basically a big blend control.

Tracking isn’t bad, but like all these things it doesn’t like the lowest notes.

 

[J Posega]

Kind of wish I had an octave that would do 'one up one down'. Who's a contender for mods on these?

We're doing a re-work of a song that was an 'end of set anchor' for us for years, but we retired a few years back. We had rights issues with it that were really sloppy as it was an original that was fused seamlessly with a number of other pieces that had multiple people claiming rights. And I'd love to have a straight up funk-envelope for it. The issue was this it has elements of Liquidator (Jamaican, 1969, rights claimed by a few including Lee Perry), I'll Take You There (stole the riddim from Liquidator, yet has rights claims too). Our song has pieces of the riddim (but also huge swaths of our own), our own lyrics but also some ref. to the Staples' song) etc. So we're unweaving.

JHS did the mod on Zach’s (the guy in the Xerograph Dlx video linked previously). Loophole Pedals might be able to do it.

For pitch shifting up and down I’ve always loved the Bass Whammy but it won’t do two at the same time. I think the EHX Pitchfork will, however.

 

[Jeff Moote]

I've had two Xero Deluxe's and ended up selling them because I did not like how the envelope triggered.... I just couldn't stand it's finicky nature. However, because I LOVE how it sounds for filter sweeps and low pass filtering in my dub band, I got a three knob standard xerograph which is how I use it... filter sweeps and low pass filtering.

I went through many envelope filers trying to find the right one for the funky stuff and have settled on the Micro-Tron III, which has ended my search for envelope filters.

This has been my path with the Xero as well (owned the Dlx a few times and haven't gotten along with the envelope) and I too have settled at a 3 knob Xerograph for sweeps. The new 2 button Deluxe however solves one of the issues for me of switching the envelope in and out without messing up the setting of the Sensitivity knob, which is why I'm interested in grabbing one.

I doubt anyone in this discussion is looking specifically for the 3 knob Xero standard, but if they are mine is available as soon as I can get a deluxe v2.

I've been curious about the Micro-Tron, but haven't had the opportunity to try one.